📰 New article from Retro Handhelds
Retroidspectives: Retroid Pocket 2 and Pocket 2 Plus
https://retrohandhelds.gg/retroidspectives-retroid-pocket-2-and-pocket-2-plus/
Retroid Pocket 2 & 2+: A Look Back at Handheld Pioneers 🕹️
These handhelds were huge in pushing the retro gaming market forward! Here’s a breakdown of what made them special, and how they hold up today:
- The Lineup: The RP2 launched around $80, while the RP2+ bumped to $100 (or $65 for just the PCB). The 2+ was a significant upgrade over the original.
- Specs Snapshot: Both feature a 3.5″ screen, but the 2+ boasts a touchscreen, faster processor (Unisoc T310), more RAM (LPDDR4X) and double the storage (32GB).
- Controls – Good for the Time: Decent controls for 2021/2022. Stiff face buttons, a membrane d-pad, and a slightly wonky right analog stick are the main points to note.
- Ergonomics – Surprisingly Comfortable: Many found the flat-backed design surprisingly comfortable, especially compared to earlier models like the RG350M.
- Performance Powerhouse (for its day): The RP2 handled PS1 well with some tinkering for N64/Dreamcast. The RP2+ really shined – easily running N64 & Dreamcast and even tackling GameCube with some tweaking! It’s still a powerful option in the $80-$100 range today.
Community Impact: These handhelds helped build strong communities (like the Retroid Discord!) and popularized compatibility spreadsheets for Android emulation – something we still* see today.
Basically, these weren’t just handhelds – they were a launching pad for a lot of what we see in the retro gaming scene now! You can find more details & the full article here: https://retrohandhelds.com/retroidspectives-retroid-pocket-2-and-pocket-2-plus/
What are your memories of the RP2 or 2+? Let’s chat in the Discord! ✨